My Review of Mexico Street by Simone Buchholz

Mexico Street is the third outing of Chastity Riley and I'm sure she has many more adventures to come. You know that you are in safe hands with Simone Buchholz, she knows exactly how to grab the audience: in this instance with the enigma of the tunnel, and then keep it with the main protagonist a quirky middle aged female public prosecutor who is struggling with her own demons. I loved the imagery of the sleepless Riley feeling invisible after a sleepless night and until she's had her morning coffee. I know exactly how she feels: that feeling of being so exhausted that you don't feel real and only caffeine makes you come alive. 

Riley's past is full of ghosts that haunt and torment her and the coupled insomnia makes her appear somewhat flaky at times. This is reflected in the omniscient narrator who is sometimes Riley, sometimes not, sometimes focusing on the case: the death of Nouri, sometimes his past and sometimes none of the aforementioned. However, there's always a cohesion though that swirls around Riley and/or Nouri, it's a salient reminder that we are all more than our occupation or family name. Riley's private life, and its woes, doesn't just stop because she's on a case and people can be murdered for a multitude of reasons. It makes the case intriguing and the various obstacles that hinder the investigation just enhance this plus it also adds an air of authenticity as in the real world there are blind alleys and frustrations aplenty.

I absolutely love the idea that the reader is left knowing enough at the end of the novel to feel a sense of satisfaction but we're not given an answer to everything. Again, it’s just like the real world and all the better for it.

I must give a big shout out to Rachel Ward for the fantastic translation.

Thanks to Anne Cater and Karen Sullivan for my gifted copy.